Apparatus for filling containers



Dec. 4, 1945. R B McK|NN|5 I 2,390,443

APPARATUS FOR FILLING CONTAINERS Filed March 12, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet laf 79 42 l,

62 I F3, 44 3g l I '7/ 45 ,72 46 1335 ,7.3 47 37 /W l f7# Z 419 s Y v 5.J5 6 6 j J# 53J7 i 35 y I 1 60 x 69 65 J0 .33 70 f .f2 5l 344 63 GMW@Dec. 4,' 1945. R. B. MCKINNIS APPARATUS FOR FILLING CONTAINERS lSheets-Sheet 2 Filed March-12, 1941 Dec. 4, 1945. R. B. McKlNNls.2,390,443

APPARATUS FOR FILLING CONTAINERS Filed MarhlZ, 1941` 3 Sheets-Sheet 5Patented Dec. 4, 1945 lUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE APPARATUS FOR FILLINGCONTAINERS Ronald B. McKinnis, Winter Haven, Fla. Application March 12,1941, Serial No. 383,044

(Cl. 22e-6s) 2 Claims.

` My invention relates to apparatus for lling containers. The inventionis particularly adaptedl for lling containers with liquids whilepreventing oxidation of the liquids, though the invention is not to be.0f this nature.

` In those cases in which liquidswhich are easily oxidized are iilledinto containers, particularly precautions have to be exercised toprevent oxidation, and it is one of the objects of this invention toprovide systems andrapparatus for control of the iilling of containersto prevent oxidation of the liquid. The old style bottom ller mechanismshave been found to be somewhat complicated and slow in operation. Thepresent invention contemplate filling from the top of the container, thecontainer remaining open during the filling operation, yet by reason .of.proper blanketing of the surface of the liquid during the iillingoperation either with inert gas vor steam, or some other fluid,oxidation is prevented Among the types of liquid which are `verysensitive to oxidation may be classed the juices of citrus fruit, `suchas oranges, and other `fruit and vegetable juices.

In the apparatus which I employ I control the operation of filling sthat the open container is subjected to a blast of inert gas or steam toforce `out atmospheric air.

After a predetermined interval of "time this blast of blanketing fluidis followed by the introduction of Va stream of the liquid, such asorange juice, the liquid being enclosed in a tube of moving inert gas orsteam. Among the inert gases I may employ are nitrogen, carbon dioxide,a mixture of the two, or other inertgases.

In addition to the objects above indicated, another object of myinvention is to provide a simple apparatus which is easy to operate andpositive in action, and which will fill the cans to a desired depth sothat the top edge of the can in eiect becomes the gauge by which isdetermined the amount of liquid permitted to flow into the can.` Thusvariations in can sizes can be filled While still maintaining a constanthead space in all cans. A further object of the invention is to providea simple valve construction which is positive in operation and easy toclean, repair and replace.

With these and `other objects in view, which may be incident to myimprovements, the invention consists in the parts and combinations to behereinafter set forth and claimed, with the understanding that theseveral necessary elements comprising my invention may be varied limitedsolely to operations in construction, proportions and arrangements,without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims. 1

In order to make my invention more clearl understood, I have shown inthe accompanying` drawings means for carrying the same into practicaleffect without limiting the improvements in their useful applications tothe particular con-` structions which, for the purpose of explanation,have been made the subject of illustration.

In the drawings: Figure 1 `is a View partly in section showing theconstruction of the liquid and blanketing fluid valves; Fig. 2 is a Viewtaken along the lineu22 o Fig. 1, looking in the direction of thearrows; v

Fig. 3 is a view taken along the line 3-3 Of Fig. 1, looking in thedirection of the arrows;`

Fig. 4 is a, view taken along the line 4 4 of Fig. 1, looking in thedirection of the arrows? Fig. 5 is a view taken along the line 5-5 ofFig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 6 is a view taken along the line 6 6 of Fig. 1, looking in thedirection of the arrows;

Fig. 7 is a view in side elevationof the steam or` inert gas nozzle, andthe liquid nozzle, parts being broken away, the parts being shown" in'the position when steam or inert gas only is being injectcd into thecan; 'l

Fig'. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 7, the partsbeing shown in theposition in which juice is being iilled into the can while beingblankete'd with steam or inert gas; f

Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic view of the control system for controlling thefilling operation.`

Referring to the drawings I have shown a valve mechanism indicatedgenerally by the numeral I,

. which'is adapted to control the liquidA which is juice pipe `6 throughwhich sterile unoxidizedjuice is adapted tobe fed from some suitablesource of supply, not shown. An interiorly screw-threaded coupling,indicated generallyv by the numeralf, joins the extension 4 to the juiceconduit BS j A cleaning aperture 'l is provided in the valve 4body 3which is adapted to be closed by a screw cap 8.

The valve 2 is provided with a body 9 which is provided with anextension I0 which is exteriorly screw-threaded, having an exteriorlyscrewthreaded nipple II to which is adapted to be attached a conduit forsteam or inert gas. The extension 4 of valve body 3 and the extension I0of valve body 9 are adapted to t into holding apertures formed in abracket I2 formed on a frame I3 of the valve supporting mechanism. Theextension,4.is,he1d in placeby means oi a holding,rrutv I4iwliile thextensioni Irisi held in place by a nutV I5'.

Attached to the upper side of the valve body 3 is a vertical sleeve I5which is held t the valve body 3 by means of holding screwsIFIiwhichzeX- tend through ange I8 of the sleeve I6. Between the ange I8of the sleeve I6 andthe top'of the-- valve body 3 is held a neoprene?diaphragm I9:v

The neoprene diaphragm I9 is held between a valve closer 29 and a valvestem ZI. The' valve closer; Zll islprovidedx with.. a. head. 2-2.carrying a omima-Ld facef 23:- whichi is, adaptedi. to lie against theconical aperture 24 formed inzthe lower: portion!` of thefvalvei body;I3l.' The. valve stem 2,I is atiacheditoan armature25r of. a. solenoid.mechanisrmindicated.gener-allyl thenumeral. Z6., The armature'isadapted. toislide in,a;solenoid,barrel 2,1: carriedfinfa.cupshaped.solenoid cover 2B. The upper: movement ofthe; armaturejZdslimited.` by meansfof-f aa set-:screwv mechanism, indicated generally'bythe numeral 29. The sclenoidZr is provided: with*` the', usual;solenoidy winding 3!` which upon beingz energizediisadaptedtoma? se thearma..- ture 25, and hencey raises the valve closerv 219.y to open. the.valve., -Thefneoprene diaphragm, preventsfanyf liqnidf inthefva-lvlebvady` 3-` from. coming in contact With'.- the.- solenoid.and. its.. immediately associated: parta. The cup-shapedcover 28.. is

screw-threaded. ont tofafflange, 3I i formed on the ofi' fluid into thecan,aroundfthe=juice-. entering the; cani;

The valve 2 is normally closed, with the parts Y mrt-he position.shown'A in-'Fig-ureslI 1y andiZ.. The

verticallsleevef I,61is;providiediwith aislot havingmountedthereimarpivotpin 3:1 onfwhichfisfpivoted av lever- 38. which:basa-.lost motionsloti39 in.- one end; 'Iiislost motionfslotts ovenaftrunnion'40 formed oni the.I valve: stem', 2A closen-zfintothedown-positiorrs aspring 4I. is 'provided Whichais. attachedl toa=supporting screw 4Z mountedl on: the Icupeshapedl cover 28 of.. the

soienoidi 26.f The other?v end. ofA the springj M. is

attachedzata to .theV lever:A 38; This-tendsfto hold theevaelvecloser-in the positionA shown,l in Figureszl and2, 'llhefleverr 3.3risi-provided. witha pivot pin Mwhiclrisjadaptedito. fit; in alost motionslot-45 formed?. irr: aflink: member- 46z which is pivotally jpinedr atit1, to operating rod. 48. which is lmounted.torreciprocalimotion in a`support memben attached to thewal'vezb'ody 3f. Theoperatingfred-Afisattached tor,` an: insulating block: 58

- Wha'uzzlricis;vl adapted: tocarry shut-ofi electrodesA 5 I The: block.50, is attached. to the operating rod 4Iir2tl'irough` nuts.' 52y and-531mounted on' the operating rod 48. lAbove the nut 53 is mounted a.

'Ifol urge. the, valve cup-shaped spring receiver 54 in which the end ofa compression spring 55 is mounted. The other end of the compressionspring 55 is adapted to rest in an aperture 56 formed on the under sideof the support 49.

The details of the shut-off electrode construction are shown in Figure5. The insulating block is shown made in two pieces. Each of theelecrodes 5I is provided with screw-threads 51 and knurledif; heads 58so that4 the distance which the tips ofthe electrodesprotrude below'thesurface of the block 50 can be regulated. Electrical contact is madewith the electrodes 5I through 'Ii-shapedY sleevesvz 59 set 4mto theinterior of the block 58. Each of the T-shaped sleeves 59 carriesa-binding'post B0 through which connection is madefto a..winding 6I of arelay 62, which will vbeA later described in detail.

Itisto. be noted that in the lowemost position. ofthe block 50 it isadapted to restonH the rim 6 3 ofJa caninto which` the juice is adaptedto befill'edl The tips of the' electrodes 5I. can be. made of`tantalum,. orl any othermetal which does. notl oxidizel readily;` andwhich is n'otsube ject' to electrolytic decomposition.

The valve construction 2,` whichv isI adaptedto control'l the flow of.'the steamV or, inert gas: for blanleting-` the juice hasa Valve body`9;,as1has been previously indicated. This valve b'ody: is provid'edwitha central aperture 65; At' the. lower end of the valve is a threadedvnippleIS' which', through a` suitable coupling 6.1; is, attached to` asteam or inert gaspipe 68 which in. turn; throughr into. theconical"aperture. formed; in the' bottom offthe, valveY body 9"; The valvercloser 1'4" is attachedt'o avalvestem 16,'v and in turn the valvestem1iisattached'to an armature .1.1 which is adapted'. to., slide' inaI solenoid barrel 18; of a solenoid; indicatedlgenerally by thenumera119. Thesolenoicli19l is provided with a solenoidwind'- ing 89. Acup-shaped cover 81 forA the solenoid is held in place by being screwedovera screw.'- threadedflange 82 formed on thesleeve TI.

The armature 1Tisurged`in'to its down position by means' ofacompressionspring,83', one endof whichrests onfthe top. surface ofthe armature 1&1,and theother end'ofwhich bears against the inner. surface of. anextensionY 84" madein the cup-shapedicover BEI... A.set.vscrew,indicated'generally bythe numeral85., limits the upper movement ofthearmature 11. The springt?. urges the armature 11' into its Iowermostpositionfi'n vvvhiclrtltie...valve isnormallyl closed.

Referringgthffigure. 9.' ILhave shown at control systennior providingTfor the operation of? the filling cycle.. In general' the lling,cyclecomprises rstnthe purging. step inwliicri.A steam orinsertjgasiis.dschargedlin a blast into` the` open receptacle., 641'andlatmospheric, air is discharged or. pnrgedlromthe. open receptacleSII.A Next, thelling step is started' in which juice is discharged in astream into the receptacle, the juice being blanketed by a tube ofinsert gas or steam. The system disclosed in Figure 9 is adapted tocarry out this cycle.

I have shown two electrical conductors and I 0I, which are adapted tocarry, for instance, I I0 volt current, and two conductors |05 and |06to carry a current of, for instance, 12 volts. The shut-oir electrodesare carried in a circuit |01 which is 'adapted to be closed when theliquid surface |08 rises to the proper height in the container 64 (seeFig. 5). The circuit |01 is connected at |09 to a conductor |06 and atIIO to a conductor |05. In the circuit |01 is the coil 6| of theshut-off relay 62. The shut-oir relay 62 comprises an amature I I Iwhich is adapted normally to be in the position shown in Figure 9, i.e., in the normally closed position. Through the armature I I I and alead I I2 connected to the conductor |06 circuit is closed to a lead II3 which carries one contact II4 of a starting switch construction, andone contact II5 of a valve relay, indicated generally by the numeralII6.

The valve relay II6 is normally open, as indicated in Figure 9, andcomprises a double arm switch II1 having a maintain arm IIB and anenergizing circuit arm I I9. The maintain arm II8 of the switch II1 isconnected to a lead |20 which carries a contact |2| which lies adjacentthe contact II4 in the starting switch arrangement which I haveindicated generally by the numeral |22. In the line |20 is an energizingcoil |23 of the valve relay I I6. The energizing coil |23 is adapted tomove the double arm switch II1. i

Adapted to contact the arm |,I9 of the valve relay switch II1 in itsclosed position is a contact I 24 which is connected to a lead |25 thatconnects with the winding 80 of the solenoid 2. The winding 80 of thesolenoid 19 is connected to a. lead I 26 which connects to theelectrical main |00.

Connected to the lead |25 is a lead |21 which is also connected to theline |26 through a winding |28 of a thermal switch, indicated generallyby the numeral |29, which is provided with a movable thermal element |30which upon actuation is adapted to close its contact I 3| with a contact|32 connected through a lead |33 to the contact |24.

The movable element |30 of the thermal switch |29 is connected throughthe lead |34 to line |26. In the lead |34 is the solenoid winding 30 ofthe solenoid 26.

In operation the receptacle or can 64 is placed underneath the valveassembly in the position shown in Figures 1 and 2. The starting switch|22 is operated, which closes the circuit between contacts |2| and II4.This energizes the coil |23 which moves the double pole switch II1 tocause arm I I9 to contact the contact |24 and maintain arm IIO tocontact the contact II5. Circuit is thus closed by the maintain arm I I8to maintain the current in the winding |23, and thus maintain the switchII1 in the closed position. In such closed position current flowsthrough the winding |28 of the thermal switch |29 and through thewinding 80 of the solenoid 19. Thus the steam or inert gas valve isopened, for the valve closer 14 is raised against the tension of thespring 83 and steam or inert gas is discharged downwardly into thecontainer 64.

In the meantime the thermal switch |29 is becoming heated through thecoil |28 and the movable element |30 is under the actuation of the riseof temperature causing contact |3I to approach contact |32. After apredetermined time contact |3I makes contact with contact |32, and thiscloses the circuit through the arm II9 of the switch II1 through lead|33, contact |32, contact I3I, movable member |30, lead |34, and winding30 of solenoid 26 to the line I 26. `The solenoid 26 is thereforeoperated to move the armature 25 into the up position and to thus movethe valve closer 20 into the up position and open the juice valve.

In Figure 7 the purging of the can with the steam or inert gas isdiagrammatically illustrated. In Figure 8 it will be noted that there isa stream of juice |40 which is surrounded by an envelope of steam orinert gas |4I which completely surrounds the stream of juice andprotects it from oxidation. The inert gas or steam lies on top of therising liquid in the container 64 and prevents access of oxygen to thejuice. There will be a considerable quantity of steam or inert gas whichwill nd its way in bubbles below the surface of the juice, but sincethis material is entirely non-oxidizing no deleterious effects will beobtained. In fact the foam on the surface of the juice as it rises inthe can also tends to blanket the main body of the juice from oxidation.

The surface of the juice rises in the can to a point such as isillustrated in Figure 5, where the circuit is closed through theshut-off electrodes 5I by reason of the completion of the circuitthrough the body of the juice itself. Then coil 6I of the shut-off relay62 is energized and this attracts the armature I I I of the shut-offrelay, opening the circuit. This de-energizes coil |23, and the normallyopen valve relay switch III opens, thus breaking the circuit throughwinding 30 of the juice valve solenoid, and also opening the circuitthrough the winding of the steam or gas valve solenoid. Springs thenreturn the solenoid armatures to the lowermost position, as shown inFigure 2, and the flow of juice and steam or inert gas is stopped.

It is to be noted that the insulating block 50, during the lling of thecan with the liquid, rests on the upper rim 63 of the can. This gives aconstant height to the juice in the iilled can, since cans of differentheights may be employed, but the regulation of the height of the liquidin all cans is dependent on the amount that the shut-off electrodesproject byond the bottom surface of the block 50.

My apparatus permits of thorough purging of Y the cans and theintroduction of non-oxidized liquid into the cans, filling them from thetop and using open cans. This greatly facilitates the filling,shortening the process and saving time, tand reducing the expense of thefilling operaion.

I desire that my invention be limited only by the showing of the priorart and the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An apparatus for iilling open containers with a desired amount ofliquid comprising a source of the liquid, a stationary nozzle incommunication with the source and terminating above the upper end of thecontainer for discharging the liquid downwardly into the container, a`valve for controlling flow of liquid from its source to the nozzle, areciprocating stem serving to open and close the valve, a reciprocatingsupport member engageable with the upper rim of the container, agauging' device carried by the support and projecting downwardlytherefrom a; predetermined distance; into, the container whern the,support is in; engagement withitherixn-x of; the; containen-said gaugingdevicead.emptied-toyy contact; the; rising; surface of; the liquidfjorgauging. theidesired;lever of liquid in the. containen a, rocken arm:connecting; thesupport member V andr valve stem andactuated-,by said fstem to respectively' lower andvraisei the; support with; respect to;ther container; with; opening and closing movement of the: valve; stem.

2. An. apparatus forY llingf open containers withi a, desiredf. amountof liquidl comprising; a sourceof; thei liquid;` a stationary nozzle incornmuni'cation; with, theV source, and terminating ahavefthe, upperend; of-` the. container for discharging theliquidA downwardly'into thecontanenavalve; for'controllng, flow ofliquid trom its.; sources: tothe; nozzlaga reciprocating stem serving: to openzandclosethe-valveicontrol means for; regulatingthe amountot opening,l movementof the valve. stemt, a; movable)A support, member engageable with theupper rim of. the container, a. gauging,i devicey carriedby'the.support. and projecllgV downwardly. therefrom a predetermined distance.into the container When tl'iefsuplporttv is inf engagement`y with4V the,rim4 ofv the container, said gauging device eriaptecttovv contact theris.

ing surfaceof the liquid for. gaugingfthe desired Y level; of liquid inthe container, linkage means connecting the. support member and ValveAstem and actuated.- by. said stem. to respectively; lower and` raiseytlf-le support. with respect] tol the contaner with opening andclosing.= movement'ofthe l valvei stemt,I andlost motionmeansconstituting al part of; saidlinkage.tofpermitthe valve. to. open itsfull` regulated amount, after the. support has the container.

engaged the, rirnl` of y Y RONALD B.. MGKINNIS.

